After reassuring everyone that he was fine, they were thrown out of the pub for making a commotion.
Gareth apologized to his other Dwarves companion for getting them kicked out. As they questioned Gareth, Finn looked at him with a smile. Leading a band of Dwarves miners, from the look of his garments.
"Is he really your old friend?" Riveria glanced at him skeptically. Fair, considering he told them that he was fourteen years old.
"Loki can explain later."
"Hey! Don't dump your responsibility to me!" was the quick reply from his Goddess.
After assuring his companions, Gareth came towards his group, this time with a relaxed smile.
"How about another pub? We have a lot to catch up on."
"Sure."
As they walked towards another pub, Riveria kept glancing at Gareth as if he was beneath her. Finn couldn't help but smile. Oh, the folly of youth... and an ignorant one to boot. But he guessed that was how Elves are. She did look down on him when they first met. It wasn't until the fiasco with the dragon that she acknowledged his strength even though he was a Pallum.
"What's wrong, Riveria?" Aina asked her friend.
"I don't buy it one bit. Old friend?"
"Gahahaha," Gareth laughed boisterously, being questioned by the Elf Princess. "It's a long story, Miss Elf."
They settled on a nearby pub.
When they sat down and finished ordering their drinks, Riveria couldn't hold back anymore.
"Spill. Who are you, and why did you assault him like that."
"Quite a fussy one, aren't you? Finn, where did you meet her?" Gareth asked him.
"Literally when she tried to leave the Alf Royal Forest. Galmus, meet Riveria, the princess of all Elves."
"Is that so? If she wants to lead all the Elves, her attitude needs adjustment. And it's Gareth now. Gareth Landrock."
Aina opened her mouth but closed it again. She scrunched her eyes, thinking about something. Was she familiar with the name Galmus, then?
"You haven't answered my question."
"Before I explain things, I think it's better for Finn to explain some things to you. Ain't that right, Finn?" Gareth looked at him, raising his eyebrow.
"That's correct." Finn then brought out a written version of the Song of Light and the bible of Fianna. "Do you know these, Riveria?"
"I have to admit I am unfamiliar with tales about other races," Riveria winced, feeling shameful about her ignorance.
"It's a collection of poetry and songs from the infamous poet Wishe. I trust you are familiar with them." He saw Riveria nod. Wishe was infamous, one of the three great poets. There was no way Riveria wouldn't know about them, especially since Wishe was an Elf. "And this one is a bible for Pallum. Both of them tell us the tale of the great Knights of Fianna of ancient times.
"I wouldn't bother you with details; you can borrow it later if you're interested. To make it short, Finn is a name I take up as my goal is to become the light for the Pallum. However, Finn was also a name I took back three thousand years ago to honor the greatest Pallum, Fianna. My real name was Dim, a page of the Knights of Fianna."
There was silence until Loki broke it.
"It's true. I saw it myself when I put a Falna on his back. He is the reincarnation of an ancient hero. And besides, mortals can't lie to us."
The confirmation from a Goddess further made Riveria's mind blown away.
"T-Then, when you said 'old friend' and 'Galmus'..." Oho, it seemed that Aina knew about the old Dwarf. "Is he really Galmus the Great Dwarf Hero?"
"That's right, Elf lady. Nice to meet you."
"Awawa! What do I do!?" Aina panicked. "To meet Lord Galmus like this..."
"It's Gareth now, Elf lady. Galmus is a chapter of a book that has been closed. Right now, I'm enjoying life as a miner."
"You know about Galmus, Aina?"
"W-Well, Argonaut is one of my favorite non-Elf tales." Aina blushed and had to cover her red face with her hands.
The mention of Galmus' old friend brought a melancholic look out of the Dwarf. Ah, when he was nothing but a page of the Knight of Fianna, Ryulu did mention that Argonaut had died before his friends.
"Hey, Finn," Gareth called him. "If you and I are here, can I hope to meet everyone else again?"
That was also what was on Finn's mind ever since he met Gareth. If the two of them were here, could there be a chance for everyone to be reincarnated? It might be small, but there had been two exceptions already. It might not be tomorrow. It could be in ten, twenty, or even thirty years later.
The sample size was too small to make a conclusion, but the chances were not zero. That said...
"I hope I won't meet anyone else," Finn laughed half-heartedly.
"Of course," Gareth rolled his eyes. "Pretty damn sure everyone is going to follow in my footsteps and take a jab at your pretty little face."
Aina raised her hand. "Um, that's right, Mr. Gareth. Why did you punch Mr. Finn."
Gareth casually pointed him out. "That guy and his group of courageous Pallum did a suicide charge to kill Balor, leaving all of us to build on his sacrifice. Damn fool."
Finn only smiled. "It was the only way I could turn the lie into a reality."
"Lie? Reality?"
"You'd be better reading the poetry and songs, Aina. I haven't read all of the bibles, but the next generation of Pallum glorified Finn and the rest too much," Loki said as she offered the book containing Wishe's poetry to the Elf. "This Wishe's poem and songs use flowery words, but they're mostly correct."
"Well, Wishe was there, after all. I was a little sad that nobody else but them correctly recorded that I'm a male," Finn shook his head.
"Wishe was there for Argonaut's comedic tale and also there for the Knight of Fianna's glory..." there was a hint of awe in Aina's tone.
"It was only twenty years difference, after all," Gareth helped her cope with reality.
Finn looked towards Riveria, who had been back with them after losing her mind to the truth. "Feel better, Riveria?"
"Yes. I have the strangest daydream ever."
"Me being the reincarnation of Finn? It's true," Finn smiled at her. Ah, damn. So this was why Helga and the rest loved to tease him back then.
"Gareth. What do you say about joining my Familia?" Loki suddenly asked the reincarnated Dwarf, who only blinked at the attention given to him.
"..."
"What's wrong? If Loki didn't ask you first, I would've done so, to be honest." Finn revealed.
"Finn. What are your goals this time? The flame in your heart has died out, leaving just ashes. Even the embers remaining were wiped out as you did your suicidal charge. Even so, you joined up with a Goddess when you're barely old enough."
"The hell you're talking about, Old Man. I'm fourteen."
"Barely old enough. I'm twice your age now."
"Fair," Finn hummed, thinking of the answer for his old friend. "In my previous life, I made a Geasoath to help rid the monsters from the world. I discarded it and disgraced myself for revenge, lying to everyone about my intention.
"I guess... this time, I just want to be what I tricked people into thinking. A hero of the Pallum," Finn finished with a sigh.
Everyone was silent, even Riveria and Aina.
"What's wrong? Oh, I also forget to say. I want to humanize Fianna too. Say, Gareth. Do you remember the afterlife? Because I don't. Even though I'm very sure I ended up in the afterlife after I died, I couldn't remember any of it."
"Me too. Why?" Gareth asked.
"Because I'm sure Fianna would be unhappy if she woke up one day and realized that she was why the Pallums were so depressed," Finn finished. After a few seconds, he added. "That, or she just killed more monsters in frustration."
"Gahaha, I see you're still as ridiculous as ever, huh? What about you, Miss Prim and Proper Elf?"
"Regretfully, I haven't found any goals, as I considered leaving my home as the goal. However, Finn just explained to me about Orario, and I find myself intrigued," Riveria explained.
"How about you, Elf lady?"
"U-Um," Aina tried to find words. Finn guessed she was still not over the fact that someone from the legend was in front of her. "I don't know... I guess helping Lady Riveria with her goals."
Gareth nodded to himself, accepting all the answers.
"I see... thanks for answering. Give me a few days to settle my position with the others and leave with you."
Loki's eyes opened wide. "Then..."
"I'll be joining you again, Finn."
"Yahoo! Another legend get!" Loki jumped and did celebratory dances.
"Why do you want to join, Gareth?" Finn interrupted Loki's dances with a question, firing back the question Gareth asked him. "Do you have a goal this time?"
Gareth only grinned.
"My chance to meet the others is better with you. Grit your teeth, okay?"
Finn's eyes twitched in irritation.
A few days later, after Loki gave her Falna to Gareth (And quite an Adventure in Gareth's home village), they discussed things as they continued their journey.
"Gareth, seeing as you're more experienced, do you want the Vice-captain position?" Finn offered. "No offense to you, Riveria."
Riveria looked like she wanted to say something but realized that, indeed, Gareth was more experienced in leading. She held her tongue back.
"Hard pass. I never liked my responsibility in my old life, anyway. I just wanted to help my tribe from monsters and fight, but they foisted all responsibilities on me, saying that I was the leader. Damn them."
That got a laugh out of Finn.
"Understandable."
"Besides, Miss Princess over there should get it. It's a practice for the future."
"...I do not need your endorsement, but I thank you for your thoughtfulness," Riveria harrumphed.
"I see. Is that fine with you, Lady Loki?"
"You're the captain, Finn."
"Very well. Riveria, from now on, you are Loki Familia's Vice-captain."
"Great! Now we should celebrate it next time we hit a town!" Loki raised her arm in excitement.
"I should've known..." Riveria sighed.
"Haha, I'm afraid that's how Lady Loki is, Riveria."
"Oh well, if it's always like this, it'll be easy to adapt to how things are!" Gareth laughed boisterously.